Llantrisant Folk Club

Welcome to Llantrisant Folk Club, which has celebrated more than 34 fantastic and inspiring years of serving up home-made acoustic music to the communities of Llantrisant and Pontyclun – and here’s to the next 34 years! Originally founded in The New Inn in Llantrisant by Mick Tems, Pat Smith, Stuart Brown and Siwsann George, and now based in Pontyclun Institute Athletic Club, the Club has staged over 2,000 intimate concerts with singers and musicians from all over the world, which is an amazing achievement. Artists from near and far love to perform at the Club, which is famous for its friendly and welcoming atmosphere, its belting, wonderful harmony choruses – and its wonderful food, cooked by Pat!

The Club is blessed with all manner of poets, singers, raconteurs and musicians, who can turn an ordinary Song And Tune Night into a wonderful and magical experience. However, if you want to sing and perform but are terrified of your first “floor spot”, then don’t worry – we’re a friendly bunch! We love to introduce new performers, and new audiences as well.

The Club is located in the Lounge Bar of The Athletic Club, with perfect accessibility and facilities, a welcoming atmosphere, real ale and a comfortable lounge (turn right at the club’s main entrance, and you’ll find us in the first door.) The ‘Ath’ serves real ale (Stones bitter and Bass) and it’s a perfect place to spend a Wednesday evening!

Talbot Green, Pontyclun and the Llantrisant area has many good pubs and restaurants; in Cowbridge Road, Pontyclun, near to the Club, Fullbrooks Bistro serve wonderful meals and The Bute Brasserie promise good food, many real ales and Gwynt y Ddraig ciders; and why not enjoy a meal and the finest of ales in The Boar’s Headin the hamlet of Tyla Garw? La Trattoria, in Talbot Road, Talbot Green, serves up superb Italian fare, while The Miskin Arms in the village of Miskin has an extensive menu. You won’t go hungry in Pontyclun itself; there are Chinese, Indian and fish-and-chip eateries within a stone’s throw in the village. The Windsor Hotel (and the Taurus restaurant) has closed.

Llantrisant Folk Club has been making glorious music for well over 35 years, and you are invited to The Session! The Club offers an exciting year-round programme of international artists from these islands and the whole world over. Performers are always welcome if you can sing or play your instrument, be it a guitar, fiddle, melodeon, crwth, pibgorn, concertina, whistle, bagpipe, tabwrdd, bodhran, triple harp or hurdy-gurdy – anything goes, and we always welcome audiences who just want to watch and revel in the spine-tingling atmosphere of a genuine acoustic event.When no artist is appearing, Llantrisant Folk Club offers Song And Tune Nights, where members and non-members swap songs and tunes in an informal singaround basis. Showcase Nights offer a chance for musicians to stretch their legs in a 20-minute spot or spots.

A night out in Llantrisant Folk Club won’t hurt you in the pockets, too. You don’t have to become a member – but if you do, we can promise you fantastic savings. Take a look at our prices:

Artist nights

£8 (non-members)

£5 (members)

Showcase nights

£3

Song & Tune nights

£3

Membership fee

£7 per year – a bargain!

We pride ourselves on booking an ambitious and go-ahead programme, but occasionally and inevitably this means an increase in the price. We’ll inform you as soon as possible.

It is normally not necessary to pre-book – just phone or email Pat Smith (details are below) or just come as you are!

Hello Mike,
Pat’s away in Asturias (Northern Spain) dancing with Pen-y-fai at a festival. I’m editing the Llantrisant Folk Club website and FolkWales Online Magazine. We don’t do tickets; however, Olly Price is the doorperson, and she will reserve you seats (provided that you arrive before 8pm.) How many seats, please?